Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-07-14
DANIEL WEBSTER.
the Great Orators wonderful Success ~
Fourtif-ofSJuiy Man.

The Great Orators wonderful Success ~
Fourtl.of-Juiy Man.
No one has had moro Pourth-of-July in
his soul than Daniel Webster, and no
other man has left such powerful express
sious of the Fourth-of-July spirit a no.
Some OF his speeches are chiefly valuable
as a record Of how the American people
felt about the revolutionary strugglo
while It's events wcre still recent, and
every town could boast some survivors Oh
General Washington's army.
His father, Judge Webster, who had
served under Stark, was himself on hon
ored survivor during the first years o.
Daniels early manhood, and, old-soldier-
like, he loved to fight his battles over
again by the hresidc. What father ever
had o more receptive soni
Those who are familiar with tho old
homo in New Hampshire can trace in all
the best spec ches OF Webster tho lessons
imbibed from his fathers conversation.
II was as much Judge Webster as Daniel
Webster who replied TO Haync In the Sen
ate Tho National spirit OF those great
speeches, and much Of the legal argument
as we'll, was derived by the orator from
the burning talk TO which he had listened
in his carly homo.
Our younger readers can scarcely real
ize the profound veneration In which tho
survivors of the revolutionary war were
held half a century ago, when their num-
bers dwindled to little groups OF bent and
hobbling veterans.
1t was no mere oratorical device which
Daniel Webster, In his Bunker Hill nd-
dress, employed when he spoke directly 70
the old soldiers present. the "venera-
BILE men you have come down 70 US from
former generation" His own father had
been one OF them, and he probably remem
bered tho fact when he conceived the pas
sage, ono OF the finest in tho oratory OF
America. The soul Of the occasion lives,
and lives forever, In those pathetic SEN
fences.
Mr.. Josiah Quincy, In that exquisite
book, 1.-THE Figures OF the Past" takes US
behind the scenes OF that memorable day,
and enables us TO perceive how we'll Web
ster's words expressed what every ono
felt 1t fell 10 Mr.. Quincy's lot, as Gov
ernor's aid, TO introduce each OF the sur
vivorsn TO General Lafayette before tho
proceedings Of tho day began. The old
men were drawn upln line in hall near tho
common, 10 which no spectators were ad-
mitted, for the committee had kindly re-
solved 70 give them fair opportunity 70
sec and hear their distinguished comrade
from France.
81 passed along the line OF old men," MT.
Quincy records, "taking the name OF each
Of them from his lips and repeating it 70
Lafayette. He Immediately pronounced
the name after me in tones Of tho deepest
interest, as IL that Of a dear personal
friend; and then, advancing, grasped the
hand OF each veteran with tender cor
diality.
There was no crowd OF idle witnesses TO
gaze upon the scene. stood the one young
man among these honored heroes II there
were dry eyes in the room mine were not
among them"
One Of the old soldiers, Captain Clark,
was ninety-fve years Of oge. The cere-
mony finished by the young mans attach
ing 10 each breast badge OF honor which
was worn through the day. Later In the
morning. when Mr.. Webster was about 70
begin his GRAFTON, Lafayette positively oe-
clined 10 occupy the seat in tho pavilion
which had been reserved for him.
"No.n said he, al belong there, among the
survivors Of the revolution, and there |
must sit"
He had his wish, and sat among the vet
Grams, exposed to tho heat OF the June sun.
1t was great day, indeed, and the great
est moment Of IL was when the orator said
to the old men Of the venerated group,
while they and the whole assemblagc was
dissolved in tears;
Veterans OF half century, when In
your youthful days you put every thing at
hazard In your country's cause, good %
that cause was, and sanguine as youth is.
still your fondest hopes did not Stretch
onward 70 an hour like thisl At period
70 which you could not reasonably have
expected 70 arrive, at q moment OF Ma
tional prosperity such as you could never
have foreseen, you arc now met here 70
enjoy the fellowship OF old soldiers
and 10 receive the overfowings OF uni
versal gratitude"
At this point the old peR Hero quito
broken down By emotion, end th1oretor
considerably changed tho stheme Of his
discourse. YOUTHS Comp0nioA